Music That Inspires

Hey Hey Amazon Friends! 

This week is a special week…it’s Mommy Income’s birthday! ! Woohooo! 🥳Mommy Income turns eight years old this week, and I am so excited to talk about that. 

It's been a really crazy, fun, and interesting ride, to be honest. But it has also been hard. It's been all of the things I expected and some of the things I haven't expected. And I wanted to share with you a little bit about the journey because I think it's really important to reflect and look back. 

I think oftentimes we get so caught up in the here and now and what's required of us and what we want right this moment that we forget to look back at how far we've come.

We forget to look back at who we were once, who we decided not to be or what pivots and changes we've made along the way. I think those things are super important to think about and to give yourselves a time of reflection so that you can decide and determine where you're going, what you want now, what you want next, and what you want to come to pass. 

So in today's episode, I share my reflection and get even deeper in a vulnerable way as I share a direct quote from the journal about why I started Mommy Income. I also answered a question that came into our inbox that really touched me…

“I just wanted to say thanks for all you do. Your podcast inspires me every week. I love your story and how strong you are. You seem to never give up and keep working even when it's hard. Thank you for saying the hard things that we need to hear. You are so successful. I can only dream of a million dollars. Do you have a housekeeper and a nanny and everything? Honestly, can you tell me how you did it all?”

I'm so glad this was asked because now I can share the answer with you all. You see, there are a few key things that got me where I am today and will help you move toward your goals as well. Tune in for some tea-time secrets and vulnerability on how I got to where I am now, the deposits you can’t make, and the steps to the road to achieving success at every level of life and business.

QUOTE:

“Expect obstacles, but don’t turn them into the roadblock that keeps you from success. Go around them, go through them, go over them. Build a bridge. But whatever you don’t make excuses to give up. Keep pushing through to success!”

RESOURCES:

• Mommy Income Birthday Sale
• 10 Wealth Blockers
• What If I Fail?
• How to Succeed as an Amazon Seller?
• How Eric Quit His Corporate Job to sell on Amazon [SELLER SUCCESS STORY]

So there you have it, my tea-time secrets for success. And now it's time to take action! I challenge you to get crystal clear about what you want. Even if it's something as insignificant as making an extra $104 a week to afford tires and medicine. Make a small goal and be determined that no one, including yourself, will stand in your way. Have faith that it's possible because it's possible for you. But you shouldn’t do this alone. You are not meant to do it alone. And I’m here to help! 

I want you to start making deposits into your success bank and not your excuse bank. And if you’re ready to take that next step, I've got a special Mommy Income Birthday offer just for you! 

Whether you are looking to get support as a wholesale bundle student, coaching, or products…snag your sweet deal here >> www.mommyincome.com/birthday 

Thank you for giving me the privilege to do this week after week. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful week, everyone. See you same time, same place next week on the Amazon files.

Keep on pushing forward…

-KO

Q4, the fourth quarter of the year and the most wonderful time of the year for us as sellers, is upon us once again. Thanks to the many holidays that occur during these months from October to December, Q4 ends up being the biggest selling season of the year, and with the statistics, insights, and tips I share with you here today, it can end up being a huge success for you as well.

This week we’ll dig into the details about Q4, especially some statistics regarding it, which you know I love. Along the way, I’ll review a number of product ideas for the 3 major Q4 holidays as well as my 3 key tips for the season, its top spending categories, and the importance of understanding your customer. We’ll finish off by looking at the top 5 reasons people purchase from Amazon. Whether this is your first Q4 as a seller or you’re a seasoned veteran, today’s episode gives you all you need to know to ensure this one is massively successful for you and your business.

I'm sure you've read the phrase "the sky's the limit" a million times. As entrepreneurs, it means there are no limits to what we can achieve, how far we can grow, and the many different ways we can succeed. 

However, it is not an overnight success. It is not a straight road. There are many ups and downs on this roller coaster ride to success and your dreams, where you need to apply consistent small steps day in and day out, even when you feel like throwing in the towel. 

I don’t know about you, but I'm tired and exhausted of arguing politicians about all things pandemic and all kinds of different stuff crowding our headspace. 

Tired of dealing with violence and arguments over who's going to do what, where all around the world. We've all had our ups and downs the past few years, with everything turning upside down. We're all kind of tired, aren't we? 🙋‍♀️

But if these times have taught us anything at all…

It's how to be resilient and adaptive when things are out of our control. Everything from inflation, job losses, increasing prices and bills, increasing interest rates, fighting politicians, the weather, and hurricanes are outside your control.

Yet all of these challenging times bring out our strength, no matter how exhausted we are. It’s not fun. It's not easy. And I'm here with you. I hear you, I see you. I understand that the struggle is REAL. 

Every day we have a long list that seems to multiply every day, and it grows longer than the time we have to take care of the list. 

We probably have bills that are stacking up, and we wonder how they will be paid, how we will make ends meet, or if this business is actually going to work…

Hard times create strength, and there are eventual benefits. 

Now, don’t catch what I am not saying. I'm not saying we must be happy with endless sunshine and rainbows when our world is crashing in or closing in on us. But what we learn about these hard times and things that come at us, things inside our control or outside of our control - we can learn from and makes us stronger. 

Let's be real… sometimes our wounds are self-inflicted. Sometimes we find ourselves in a position because we did nothing, did too much, or did the wrong things. And let's be even more real and tougher…sometimes the problems we create for ourselves are because of our own excuses, our own procrastination, or our own unwillingness to learn and adapt. 

But that's okay now. Why? Because you're here right now listening to what can help you change that. It's not fun, it's not easy, but it's worth it! And there are benefits when we consider where we're at and where we want to go.

QUOTE:

“This world is tough. Competition is fierce, and everyone is screaming at you to do more, be more and hustle more. But what I do know about all of these hard things, no matter how exhausted we are, hard times bring out our strength and benefits. So make a change and keep pushing forward!” - Kristin Ostrander

RESOURCES:

• Wholesale Bundle System 3.0
• Amazon Ecommerce Success Stories Stay-At-Home Mom Makes $300k
• TOP Answers to Questions about Selling on Amazon
• Your 2022 Amazon Business
• 7 Reasons 1:1 Coaching is Worth Your Time and Money

Are you ready to go for it? To adapt and change? You're nodding yes, and that's great! You’re ready to go from “I can't. I won't.” to YET. But don’t think you have to do it alone. If you are unsure of what your next move is, no worries! 😉 I finally opened my coaching calendar again to accept new clients.

I would be happy to chat with you about your goals, desires, and what/where you want to be next, even if it's not Amazon. So many people are scared to come to me because they stopped doing Amazon long ago and are doing this and that now. I'd love to hear about what you're doing now if Amazon's not right for you. I’m so proud of you for adapting, changing, making mistakes, and pushing forward!

There's nothing new under the sun. There's no straight line to success or elevator up to the top of whatever mountain you're climbing. So whether that's an Amazon business or something else, you still apply the same principles. You're not there YET, but you're willing to make changes to get where you want to be or get closer to where you want to be. 

I would love to help you figure that out! Whether it's the next steps in your Amazon business or transitioning into something completely different. I've helped people with all those things, and I would love to just have a conversation to get to know you and to talk to you about your desires and goals so that you can take the next step. Book your coaching time now: www.mommyincome.com/coaching. 

Let’s pick up and start moving in the right direction together!

Thank you so much for listening to this week’s episode. Share your AHA moments with me on my free private Facebook group  - the Amazon Files (use the code word YET) and tag me so I can celebrate with you! 

Have questions? Email me directly at [email protected] with all your questions, concerns, or doubts. I would love to answer them all for you.

Keep on bundling…

-KO

I have a question for you…

Do you know what to do next in your business? 

Are you pulled in a hundred thousand different directions every single day, full of chaos and disorganization, or at least some of the time? 

I don't know if you're like me, but that's exactly how I feel. 🙋‍♀️ 

Hey hey, friends, my name is Kristin, and I am so happy you are here. 

A lot of the time, I’m pulled in all kinds of different directions. I wear many hats. I have many roles…

So how can you find peace amidst all this chaos? How can you get things done and stay organized and stay on top of your business? Because that's the deal here. We want to stay on top of our business and get more done!

Why? Because when we get more done, usually we make more money! 

We have a list of things to do so we can improve our business. Y'all, if you have a bunch of tasks that don't benefit you in some way, throw them away. We have a list of tasks and todos because we find them important. And so there is a way that you can change your business daily - 15 minutes at a time. I’m going to talk to you about the 15-minute hustle, what it is and how it can actually help you. And if you’ve been here for a while, this will be your reminder. 😉

I live my life based on the 15-minute hustles. I honestly have a timer that sits right on my desk and use it every single time I sit to do tasks for my business. It is a timer. Yes, it's a 60-minute timer, but I live and die by this timer. You know why? Because sometimes tasks are hard, and procrastination sets in, pushing your money-making tasks to the back burner. And this is a BIG no-no!

Plus, do you know that the #1 thing that stops people from succeeding is procrastination and fear? 

Fear of being overwhelmed. 

Fear of not being able to get it done. 

Fear of not knowing what you're doing. 

Fear of screwing it up. 

Fear of [fill in the blank with any fear that stops you].

One fear I hear most often is: “I don't have time. I don't have time to overhaul my entire basement. That's full of years of the pile-up. I don't have time to do that.”

But here’s a question for you…

Do you have 15 minutes? 

Because if you do, then you can go down there and say, I will fill one paper bag with things that I can donate in 15 minutes. You can absolutely do that! 

Hey, I do it every single week. I get rid of a paper sack full of miscellaneous items that no one's using. I donate them, give them away, or throw them away in a paper sack full of stuff every week. You'd be surprised what accumulates even in a week. And we just have access to things that clutters - and it drives me crazy. 

So What is your goal? What do you want to accomplish in your business or personal life? Why are you doing business? What’s driving you here and committed to making it a success?

Come up with a BIG one even in the perfect world. And don’t be passive. 

Fill in the blank: I want ____.

It can be anything like I want an organized home where everything has a place. Or I want to take a family vacation every year. 

Once you know your goal and drive, it becomes much easier to list all your tasks and separate them into priority piles.

Now that you have your one BIG goal in mind, let’s jump in and start using the 15-minute hustle to achieve it! 

Quote:

“Reminder: Not everything is urgent. Just because everything seems urgent to us all the time…it’s not. We need to prioritize, especially in business, the things that make us money first.” - Kristin Ostrander

RESOURCES:

• 15-Minute Hustle e-book
• Wholesale Bundle System 3.0
• Overcome the “What-if I fail?” Barrier
• Overcoming "I Don't Have Enough Time" - An Amazon FBA Success Story
• STOP ANALYSIS PARALYSIS in its Tracks with THIS

It's time for you to take the 15-minute hustle challenge! Go download the book, make your master task list of what you need to do, and get yourself a timer. One you can leave on your desk or use on your phone. There's a stopwatch or timer on everybody's phone. Let’s get more stuff done. Utilize your 168 hours a week wisely. And, of course, pat yourself on the back for doing it. Don’t forget to reward and motivate yourself for the progress you make every day as entrepreneurs. 

Congrats on using the 15 minutes! 🎉

Thank you so much for listening to this week’s episode. I'd love to hear from you and how you’re using the 15-minute hustle. Post your excitement on my free private Facebook group  - the Amazon Files(use the code word FETCH) and tag me so I can celebrate with you. 

If you haven’t snagged your 15-Minute hustle e-book yet, no problem - click >>HERE

Hey everyone! I’m Kristin, your host and bundle queen 👑. Welcome to this week's episode of the Amazon files brought you by Mommy Income. 

Today we’re welcoming back a special guest: Ryan Parman. She has been selling on amazon since 2017 with her next level goal in mind - $300k revenue!! And she did it!!! 

She spills all the real secrets and truths about how she got there & what challenges came alongside her journey but most importantly, the strategies that worked. (To catch Ryan’s first episode, click here.)

Because let’s be real, no matter what level or path you are on, it’s not always going to be all sunshine and rainbows. The struggle is REAL! It’s going to be a rollercoaster ride. 

You’re going to face successes, challenges and heartstrings are going to be pulled, but it is all worth it.

So, if you’ve been thinking about…

👉 Looking for a way out of your 9-5 or to just try something new like Amazon,

👉 Testing the waters but unsure if you should start with bundles, retail arbitrage, online arbitrage, thrifting, or another model, 

👉 The challenges you may run into and how to overcome them,

👉How to set realistic goals and a path to achieve them,

👉The process of growing and evolving and more.

You’re in the right place! 

Ryan has some great advice and is dropping so much gold about her journey answering all your questions and so much more.

So bring your tea/coffee/wine and be ready to take notes! 

I can't wait to share her story with you.

But before we begin, I have a very special announcement I wanted to share...

The Wholesale Bundle System 3.0 debut is almost here! I’m so excited and can't wait for you who have pre-order it and those thinking of ordering it because it is all college-level education. 

The current curriculum is off the chain! My wholesale bundle system has generated my students and me over $20 million in wholesale bundle revenue.

Just pause and think about that for a second…

The wholesale bundle system between all the students and me has earned over $20 million in revenue. 

And I can't wait for you to see the new version. 

I have poured my heart, my soul, and every ounce of energy that I've had to deliver the best course for you. It's the most comprehensive, user-friendly, complete Amazon FBA curriculum on the market today! 

The wholesale bundle system is going to be off the chain, and actually, it already is. 

It's just not ready for you just yet, but this is your opportunity to get the wholesale bundle system 3.0 for half the cost of what it's going to be when it releases. This is the only time I'm telling you about this as well. This is a special insider promo only. You're not going to see this in an email or on social media. 🤫

This is an exclusive mommy income insider community offer for those of you who are serious about changing your income level. 

If you are serious about making wholesale bundles your reality and increasing your income on Amazon, this is going to be an exclusive offer for you only. 

It's half the cost that it's going to be in about six weeks when it's released. So you'll have access right now to wholesale bundles, 2.0, and when the new 3.0 version is released, you’ll get all of the brand new material you can dive into for only half the cost. 

Now, this is going to be a full comprehensive FBA curriculum that covers:

➡️How to set up your business properly if you haven't already done

➡️Direction in contacting and setting up wholesale supplier accounts

➡️A step-by-step research process for finding and curating the best bundles on Amazon

➡️G10 exemptions, trademark registration, brand registry, and more so that your products can be listed with ease!

So are you ready to start on your path to success and reach your revenue goals? 

Then register for the Wholesale Bundle System today!

And without further ado, let’s jump right into Ryan’s success story and how she overcame her each milestone.

RESOURCES:

• Wholesale Bundle System 3.0
• Overcoming "I Don't Have Enough Time" - An Amazon FBA Success Story
• College Credit Cost Survey with Education Data
• Success Strategies While Working from Home
• How Eric Quit His Corporate Job to sell on Amazon [SELLER SUCCESS STORY]

Do you like Mommy Income? Are you a fan of the Amazon files podcast?

If you have ever learned anything from me or the success story interviews, YAY that means I am doing my job. 

There is a really easy way to show appreciation!It’s FREE and it takes less than 5 minutes to do so!Please post a review:

—--> Google

—--> iTunes 

—--> Spotify 

Unsure of what to write in the review…No problem, I got you covered. Here are three questions you can answer when writing your review >>

#1: What is the biggest challenge you faced, and how has Mommy Income helped you overcome it?

#2: Why would you recommend the Mommy Income Community?

#3: How has being part of Mommy Income helped you reach your goals?

Join me again same time, same place next week on the Amazon files. 

Keep on bundling…

-KO

A lot of people have been coming to me lately, saying, “Oh my god, my stuff won’t sell!” and wondering what the problem is. So today, I’m talking to you guys about understanding your customer and their wants and needs so that you can sell more product to them. First, it’s important to acknowledge that Amazon customers are a little different from eBay or Walmart customers, and they have specific intents when they shop. They want speed, convenience, trustworthiness, and, most important, product selection. Amazon can carry more than any brick-and-mortar store, which means there’s room for as many products as you want to sell. In fact, Amazon’s dominance of the online shopping space is a result of its leveraging the power of two million Amazon sellers to bring new products to the table. So your focus doesn’t need to be on finding products to sell but on taking the time to figure out your customers’ problems and needs and how your products can solve them. Then, if you set up your listings right and use the proper keywords to sell something that has demand, you’re filling in the gaps and adding to the variety of products that draws customers to Amazon in the first place.

So how do we capitalize on this information and figure out what our customers want? One of the best ways is to use your knowledge bank and focus on a niche you understand—that way, you already know the problems that require solutions and can create or order products that solve them. Bundles are particularly great for this because they meet all the things your customers want—speed, convenience, variety—and can target specific problems and needs. By defining who your bundle is for, you can refine your listing with keywords and search terms specifically designed to speak to your customer and direct them to your product. And if you’re struggling to come up with ideas, I close the episode by summarizing what you need to keep in mind when choosing bundle components, from how many items to include to setting your profit point, in order to ensure you’re appealing to all of your customer’s needs while staying competitive.

You can find out more about wholesale bundling by joining the Amazon Files and Mommy Income community. Join our Facebook group with today’s codeword BUYER to learn more about bundling, ask questions, and participate in the conversation with other sellers. And if you’re ready to take your business to a whole new level, visit MommyIncome.com/Coach to schedule your one-on-one coaching call today.

This week on the Amazon Files:

• Discovering your customers’ problems and needs
• Defining the Amazon-specific customer
• The appeal of product selection
• The who, what, when, where, and why of your customers
• What to keep in mind when choosing bundle components

“You can sell products all day long. But if you really figure out what the customers are wanting and needing, who they are, and what makes them tick, and what makes them pick up their phone and click on Amazon and make a purchase, then the sky is the limit of what you can sell.”

- Kristin Ostrander

Quotes:

“People are looking to buy things, and they look at reviews, trust, free shipping. But product selection, friends, don’t miss this. Other people are talking about PPC and how to do this and this strategy and that strategy. Don’t miss the simple things. Product selection is the number one reason people go to Amazon.”

“Have you ever searched on Amazon to try to find something, and you looked for maybe four or five pages, and you still didn’t find the thing that you were looking for or the exact thing like, oh, that’s kind of what I was thinking but not this. Your customers are doing the very same thing, which also means that there’s room for variety.”

“Bundles save your customers time. It’s time, money, convenience, variety. Now bundles work because when we understand our customers, we can give them the proper products we need to solve their problems and meet their needs. It’s speed and convenience, plus the variety built right in.”

“Before you even look at products, and digits, and data, and widgets, and things like that, define the who, what, when, where, why, and how of any product or any service or any anything that you’re bringing to the table. Once you understand your customer and what they want and need, it’s very easy to provide them those very things.”

Related Content:

• Wholesale Bundle System
• Email question
• Learn With Us
• Coaching
• The Amazon Files Hub
• Bundle Ideas @MommyIncome
• 40% off MerchantWords’ Gold Package for Mommy Income students

Grow Your Amazon Business!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Amazon Files, the show to help Amazon sellers along their business journey one step at a time with Amazon expert and your host, Kristin Ostrander. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show, and leave us your honest review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends on social media! Use the codeword BUYER to join us on Facebook. Each week, Kristin hosts a live discussion on how to grow your Amazon business. Don’t forget to check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list for even more resources.

Today on The Amazon Files, it’s a tough love day. There always comes a point in business (and life and relationships) where we need to have a “come to Jesus” talk, to take stock of where we are and if it’s still where we want to be. So in this episode, I’m encouraging everybody to allow themselves a break to really consider how you’re feeling and if it’s time to make a change. First, I discuss how hard it can be to permit ourselves to take a break and how easy it is to fall into going through the motions or get distracted by the plethora of shiny opportunities out there. Sometimes it takes a major life event to get us moving and reevaluating what’s important to us and where we’re irreplaceable, which is generally not in our jobs. Acknowledging that somebody else can replace us is a bit of a gut check, but it can also free you to make choices that aren’t hindered by someone else’s standards, dreams, or priorities.

Once we’ve got that freedom, there are signs to help figure out if we’ve got stuck in a quitting attitude or if it really is time to pivot into something new. I discuss the differences between these two states and why a quitting mindset is something to work against while making an active decision to let go of something you no longer have passion for can be the next step toward getting the life you want and avoiding regret. I also explain how, if you don’t know what you want, figuring out what you don’t want can be a method of motivation, especially since people will often work harder to avoid pain or loss than to achieve success. And I close out the episode by re-emphasizing the importance of taking time to evaluate what you truly have passion for right now and leaving behind those things that no longer excite and motivate you.

You can find out more about wholesale bundling by joining the Amazon Files and Mommy Income community. Join our Facebook group to learn more about bundling, ask questions, and participate in the conversation with other sellers. And if you’re ready to take your business to a whole new level, visit MommyIncome.com/Coach to schedule your one-on-one coaching call today.

This week on the Amazon Files:

• Allowing yourself to take a break
• Knowing where you’re replaceable and irreplaceable
• The quitting attitude vs. choosing to pivot
• Being motivated by what you don’t want
• Reevaluating what you love

“Regret is permanent. You can’t undo what you didn’t do. You can’t go back and try it again—regret is something you have to live with. So I’d rather have failure. I’d rather fall on my face twenty times than never try and wonder why.”

- Kristin Ostrander

Quotes:

“It is a very noisy and crowded world. We are actually replaceable, but there’s one place where you’re not replaceable. One place. Your home, your family, your relationships.”

“Quitting is an attitude, really. It says, ‘I can’t.’ Says, ‘It’s impossible for me. It’s not gonna work.’ Quitting is, ‘I’ve tried that once, and it didn’t work.’ That makes me laugh, to be honest, when I think about ‘I tried that, and it didn’t work.’ How many ways have you tried it? How many times have you tried it? Once?”

“Change requires determination to move through the difficult parts. And that determination comes from a clear vision of what you want or a clear vision of what you don’t want. A lot of times, we will work harder to avoid the pain or loss as opposed to working for something we want.”

“Life is really too short to stay with something that doesn’t serve you anymore or that isn’t working. If you don’t enjoy it, don’t do it. It’s not quitting if you’re moving on, it’s actually growth, personal growth. The caterpillar isn’t a quitter, the caterpillar transforms to a butterfly.”

Related Content:

• Merchant Words Promotion
• Wholesale Bundle System
• Email questions
• Learn With Us
• Coaching
• The Amazon Files Hub

Grow Your Amazon Business!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Amazon Files, the show to help Amazon sellers along their business journey one step at a time with Amazon expert and your host, Kristin Ostrander. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show, and leave us your honest review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends on social media! Join us on Facebook. Each week, Kristin hosts a live discussion on how to grow your Amazon business. Don’t forget to check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list for even more resources.

The number one question I’ve been getting recently is about Brand Registry because Amazon has been changing the rules as they try to protect bigger brands. So today, I’m getting into those questions, from what brand registry does and why you as an Amazon seller need it to tips on packaging and understanding class of goods. First, though, I open the episode with an overview of what Brand Registry is on Amazon and what the requirements are to get it. These include a US trademark (Amazon will honor some international trademarks, but it’s complicated), a brand name, logo, and professional-quality packaging (no stamps or minuscule stickers), and preferably proof that your brand is already in use in commerce. I also give some advice about picking a brand name, getting brand approval (the step before brand registry), and handling multiple brands under one account.

In the second half of the episode, I answer some of your questions about brand registry, including more details on packaging requirements, when to list items, get trademarks, and register brands, and differentiating between brand names and business names (especially for those transitioning from arbitrage to bundling or private label). I also tackle how to get approval for GTIN exemptions and report trademark violations once you’ve got brand registry. And finally, I explain how class of goods works and why it’s a little different on Amazon than on other platforms.

You can ask more questions about Brand Registry by joining the Amazon Files and Mommy Income community. Join our Facebook group with today’s codeword REGISTRY to learn more about bundling, ask questions, and participate in the conversation with other sellers. And if you’re ready to take your business to a whole new level, visit MommyIncome.com/Coach to schedule your one-on-one coaching call today.

This week on the Amazon Files:

• An overview of Brand Registry on Amazon
• What Amazon’s looking for in packaging
• When to get trademarks, register brands, and list items
• Reporting trademark violations
• Understanding classes of goods

“If you’ve already got a logo and idea, you could have a serial number and be brand registered by the end of this week. No joke. If you’ve got your duckies in a row, you can file and get your trademark serial number same day.”

- Kristin Ostrander

Quotes:

“Your logo, your packaging, they want it to be professional quality. You can’t buy a stamp for ten dollars at Staples, or even at Imprint or whatever, and stamp your name on it. They want permanently affixed, professional-looking packaging to make sure you actually have a brand.”

“This is new as of right now, in the last two weeks, Amazon is fully rejecting minuscule packaging. If you have a brown cardboard box with, it looks like, one little tiny sticker on it, they’re not going to approve your packaging. And they have the right to do that.”

“Once you have the serial number, you don’t have to wait until it’s actually approved, which takes almost a year. You don’t have to wait a year. File your application, pick your class of products, get your serial number registered on Amazon.”

“If you don’t have brand registry yet, but you plan to apply for that trademark, list all of your items underneath that brand approval brand now so that once you get brand registry, you can transfer those over. If they’re not spelled identically and under the actual brand registry name, you cannot transfer old listings to new brand registry.”

“Amazon does not care if you’re registered in the class of products that are paper goods or that are textiles or whatever else. They get a serial number, they verify that this has indeed been registered, and now you can sell any product on Amazon with that trademark and that brand registry.”

Related Content:

• Merchant Words Promotion
• Wholesale Bundle System
• Email questions
• Learn With Us
• Coaching
• The Amazon Files Hub
• Sticker Mule at Mommy Income

Grow Your Amazon Business!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Amazon Files, the show to help Amazon sellers along their business journey one step at a time with Amazon expert and your host, Kristin Ostrander. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show, and leave us your honest review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends on social media! Use the codeword REGISTRY to join us on Facebook. Each week, Kristin hosts a live discussion on how to grow your Amazon business. Don’t forget to check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list for even more resources.

This week, I welcome back Lesley Hensell of Riverbend Consulting for her quarterly update on the latest news and changes for Amazon sellers. To kick things off, I ask Lesley what the hot button Amazon topic is right now, and she explains how the account health rating found on your Amazon dashboard is about to become much more important. Despite these ratings not making much sense, Amazon is about to start using them as guidance for suspending accounts, including ones that are in the yellow. Lesley says that if the color bar moves, you’re now going to need to pay attention and appeal, and I remind everyone how important it is to have your documentation in order and accessible just in case something like this happens (possibly, as Lesley suggests, by hiring a VA). This is going to start rolling out in August and September and will likely be followed by Amazon’s usual catalog cleanup in October, so it’s particularly important to clean up your account because you cannot afford to have a merchant-fulfilled shipping problem going into Q4.

Lesley also has a great tip for getting on top of your inventory by asking Amazon to provide you with a reverse feed that will give you a filled-in spreadsheet of all the information you need. And we finish the show with some details about the upcoming Surge Summit in Tampa Bay, sponsored by Riverbend, which will cover all kinds of topics for Amazon sellers, from PPC to how to maximize the value of your brand. Plus, there’ll also be a cruise of the bay and a throwback 80’s arcade for when you’ve had enough sessioning and want to have some fun!

You can chat with others about the latest changes in the ecommerce world by joining the Amazon Files and Mommy Income community. Join our Facebook group with today’s codeword RIVERBEND to learn more about bundling, ask questions, and participate in the conversation with other sellers. And if you’re ready to take your business to a whole new level, visit MommyIncome.com/Coach to schedule your one-on-one coaching call today.

This week on the Amazon Files:

• Account health ratings and suspensions
• Keeping a handle on your documentation
• Q4 Amazon deadlines
• How to get a reverse inventory feed
• The Surge Summit

“We really need to step out of that comfort zone, whether you have to come in hazmat gear, in a mask or not, you should really come and just listen and observe and speak to other people. Our business grows when we are networking with other people.”

- Kristin Ostrander

Quotes:

“Super-important to start watching that colored bar at the top of policy compliance. And there are times that if you’re a small volume seller, it will only take one complaint to move you to yellow.”

“Any time that there’s high-volume sales events like Christmas, or Black Friday, or Prime Day, or textbook season, there tends to be more enforcement. And it’s just a part of the volume of the sales on Amazon. It’s not that they’re out to get people because of Prime Day, it’s just that there’s more sales, right?”

“You cannot afford to have a merchant-fulfilled shipping problem between now and Thanksgiving because they are less forgiving, and it’s harder to get them overturned. Then you can go back in January, and they’re like, sure, yeah, you can have that privilege back. But if you lose it right before Q4, they aren’t nearly as forgiving.”

“Think of it like having a backup of your hard drives, you need a backup of your listing. So if you’ve always created your listings one by one, and you don’t have this spreadsheet, you need to ask them for the reverse feeds.”

Related Content:

• Merchant Words Promotion
• Wholesale Bundle System
• Email questions
• Learn With Us
• Coaching
• The Amazon Files Hub
• Brand Mastery Summit
• The Surge Summit

Grow Your Amazon Business!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Amazon Files, the show to help Amazon sellers along their business journey one step at a time with Amazon expert and your host, Kristin Ostrander. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show, and leave us your honest review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends on social media! Use the codeword RIVERBEND to join us on Facebook. Each week, Kristin hosts a live discussion on how to grow your Amazon business. Don’t forget to check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list for even more resources.

On today’s episode, I’m welcoming back a very special guest and expert on expanding globally on Amazon, Kevin Sanderson from Maximizing e-commerce. He’s here to talk about expanding into international sales and how doing so can up your business without a whole lot of extra work. First up, Kevin explains that expanding into Canada and the UK was one of the best moves he made in his own business and the benefits of expansion and accessing a whole new customer base. He also addresses some of the challenges of moving into international marketplaces, such as keeping up with compliance in Europe but argues that it’s worth it for the extra cash and the opportunity to apply your skills and learn new ones.

Next, Kevin discusses some of his recent moves, including organizing summits to help educate people, deciding to grow his SKU counts on Amazon, and getting into customization to add value to his listings. He also gets into the gray areas that Amazon’s recently been coming down on, like giveaways and funnels that circumvent the site’s algorithm, explaining that while he doesn’t approve of those examples, there can be benefits to figuring out how to legitimately fly under the radar while still having a good brand and presence. And speaking of branding, Kevin and I also talk about ways to build your brand, including utilizing your storefront to encourage cross-selling, making use of Amazon’s tools (like brand registry), and creating a great customer experience. And finally, we wrap things up with some details on Kevin’s upcoming Brand Mastery summit, where I and a bunch of other experts will be talking all things branding, from online growth to PPC conversion rates.

You can chat with others about global expansion and branding in the Amazon Files and Mommy Income community. Join our Facebook group with today’s codeword GLOBAL to learn more about bundling, ask questions, and participate in the conversation with other sellers. And if you’re ready to take your business to a whole new level, visit MommyIncome.com/Coach to schedule your one-on-one coaching call today.

This week on the Amazon Files:

• The benefits and challenges of international expansion
• Pivoting into new areas
• Amazon’s gray areas
• Branding and cross-selling
• Kevin’s upcoming branding summit

“That’s kind of the beauty of e-commerce, is that as we’re entrepreneurs, and we’re moving into new products and different things, that we can grow and change at our leisure. And there’s always room for that.”

- Kristin Ostrander

Quotes:

“They also know it’s to their benefit to have more catalog of more products available across the world to people in different marketplaces. And they know it’s a growth opportunity for them, which, if it’s a growth opportunity for them, it’s also a growth opportunity for us.”

“I think if you can go after more stuff that flies under the radar and have the ability to adapt easier, you’re going to be better in the long run.”

“I’ve got my own brand. And I’ve got a trademark. And that’s what you need these days, or at least be on the path for that, to get brand registry. But if you think about it, you know, Amazon really likes the concept of a brand versus disparate things.”

“We can complain about, ‘Oh, but it was different five years ago,’ ‘It was different two years ago,’ or whenever someone started or wish they would have started. We could always look back to the good old days, but you know, you can’t control the hand that you’re dealt, but you can control how you play it.”

Related Content:

• Merchant Words
• Wholesale Bundle System
• Email questions
• Learn With Us
• Coaching
• The Amazon Files Hub
• Brand Mastery summit

Grow Your Amazon Business!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Amazon Files, the show to help Amazon sellers along their business journey one step at a time with Amazon expert and your host, Kristin Ostrander. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show, and leave us your honest review. Don’t forget to share your favorite episodes with your friends on social media! Use the codeword GLOBAL to join us on Facebook. Each week, Kristin hosts a live discussion on how to grow your Amazon business. Don’t forget to check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list for even more resources.